Lasting machine



March 20,* 1928.

F. J. MacDONALD LASTING MACHINE Filed April 5. 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 1MarchZO', 1928. v 3,663,459

Y F. J. MaCDIQNALD. v l

LAsTNG MACHINE l filed April 5, 1924 i 1oA sheefsfsheet 2 2id/v v n un I'mi 'fr 76 .I im

arch 20, 1928. 1,663,459

F. J. MacDoNALD LASTING MACHINE Malrch 20, 1928. ummm F. J. MaCDONALD'LASTING MACHINE Filed April 57 192.4Y 1o sheets-sheet 'Iv `aurch 20,1928. LSASQ F. J. MacDoNALD LASTING MACHINE Filed April 5. 1924 l0Sheets-Sheet 8 I E ai 36 March 20,. 1928.

1,663,459 F. .1. MacDoNALD LASTING MACHINE Filed April 5. 1924 l0Sheets-Sheet 9 @mmRf/@ign March 20, 1928. l,663,459

F. J. MacDONALD LASTING MACHINE Filed April 5. 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet l06/ l i i 55 /7 f i i 60 l47 I mm i l 59@ 5J I 67 o l 66 57 6 54 l i 3.5(ll/Il, i i l l Al I, Il,

im Il" 57 35 l fi .i i l Q/ 76 5;! IE r l l l 1 l I I 11x www" 54 i, 2 i.56 /0 r L; j Zz/@imm FRANK J. MAUDONALD, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNQR T THEOF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F itam-5.

rss PATEN OFFICE.

B. F. GoonRIcH COMPANY, NEW YORK.

LAs'rINe MACHINE.

Application led April 5,

This invention relates tov apparatus for lasting footwear, in the broadsense of assembling or` associating an upper shoe part W1th a 1ast,.andin certain aspects is an improve- 5 ment upon the inventions describedand claimed in my applications Serial Nos.` 582,- 884, 630,796, 703,905and 11,525, filed August 19, 1922, April 9, 1923, April 3, 1924, andFebruary 25, 1925, respectively. f l0 apparatus adapted to stretch ashoeupper or an upper shoe part onto a last and especi-allya heavy, clothupper, or a; cloth-andleather upper, such as is commonly used for ltennis slices. A more specific object is to assemble such an upper and alast in determinate relation, and more particularly by .first accuratelypositioning them on respective'supporting structures `held innon-contiguous positions such that they may freely receive andaccuratelyposition the work, and' then bringing them into the desiredassociation with each other by a determinate relative lmovement of saidstructures. A further object is to provide improved means, includingstrong upper-engaging members, for applying the margin of an upperor thelike to the sole face -ot a last uponV which it is mounted, or toan'insole associated with the last. i v

0f the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lasting machine embodying my inventionin a preferred form, and the work therein, some of the details beingomitted.

p Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, as 'viewed from the left ofFig. 1.

Fig.- 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section of actuating mec anism, .online 3-3 of 4o i FSI. 4.

Fig. 4is a vertical section, on a large scale, of parts of the actuatingmechanism, on line 4-.4 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the driving clutch mechanism, on line5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine, parts being'sectioned on line'G--of Fig. 1 and lbroken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the linished Work. p

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the machine, on 1ine8-8 of Fig. 1, someof the nipper units and other parts being omitted for clearness ofillustration. Y

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a nipper an early stage of operation,

My chief objectI is to provide improved,

1924. serial No. 'zo- 1.502.

un1t for pulling the upper, in open or. upperreceiving position.

Flg. 10 1s a fragmentary, vertical section of upper-manipulatinginstrumentalities at one of the nipper units belng'shown in elevation.

Flgs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are similar views of the same at successivestages of operation.

General description.

stationary frame 12 is a set of gripper-units, 75

each comprising an L-shaped vlever or jaw carrier 15, said gripper-umtscompletely sur roundm and defining a lasting position and belng at aptedfreely to receive a conoidal shoe upper from above, automatically togripso its sole margin and hold it in exact position for the reception ofthe last from below, and

to manipulate the sole margin of the upper, after the last has beenforced thereinto, to apply the sole margin of the upper to an insoleupon which the last rests in being raised to the lasting position.

For actuating the gripper-units, three vertically movable, annularframes, 16,17 and 18, surrounding the lastinoposition at diii'er- 90 entelevations, are secured to the tops of respective sets of lifting bars19, 19, 20, 20 and 21, 21 respectively, and are adapted -to be raisedand lowered in timed relatlon for simultaneously actuating thegripper-units throughout a cycle of operations. Said lifting bars areslidably mounted in brackets 22, 22 secured to the frame members 10, andare pivotally connected below' to respective eccentric mechanismscomprising respective eccentric collars 23, 24, 2 5.

As my invention is not-wholly -limited to the manipulation'of a shoeupper, as distinguished from a lining or other upper shoe part, norv tothe. resence of an insole in association with t e last, the term upperwill be used throughout the specification and claims as including otherupper shoe parts, such as a lining, and the word last will be used asincluding an insoleor other inner if shoe part associated with the last,as well as a bare last.

Gripper waits.

The L-shaped carrier 15 of each gripperunit is provlded at its elbowwlth a pair of pivot studs such as 26, by which 1t 1s 'ivoted invertical closed slots such as 27 ormed in the Jforked upper end of apost 28 mounted upon the frame 12 and adapted to be secured in differentvertical positions thereon by a set screw 29. (See Flgs. to 14.) Each ofsaid carriers has an uprlght jaw-carrying arm 30 and a horizontalactuating arm 31, an intermediate part of the latter being connectedwith. the actuating frame 16 by a lost motion link 32 adapted to permitthe carrier to tilt toward the lasting position, and also to permlt 1tto rise vertically to the extent permitted by the slots 27 in the post28, when said frame is in an elevated position. The carrier 1s adaptedto be so tilted and raised by the force of a compression spring 33connecting the arm 31 with the frame 16, said spring being mounted upona spring rod 34 pivoted at 35 to the outer end of the carrier arm 31,extending with a loose fit into an aperture formed in the frame 16, andhaving such play therein as to permit its necessary angular movementwith relation to said frame. The lower end portion of the link 32 islikewise loosely mounted in an aperture in the frame 16 andvprovidedwith a nut 36 below the latter, so that the frame 16 will tilt theseveral carriers 15 away from lasting position, for the reception of thenext upper, when said frame is lowered.

The upright arm 30 of each jaw carrier 15 is formed as a pair ofparallel plates held in spaced relation by suitable spacing members, andeach plate has formed thereon at its upper end a corrugated jaw such as37, the two jaws being adapted to act as one, and jaws 38, mating withthe jaws 37, are

-formed on a lever 39 consisting of a pair of spaced apart platesstraddling the vertical carrier arm 30 and pivoted thereto at 40. Thelever 39 is formed with an outwardly projecting arm having an arcuateupper face 39a which is concentric with the pivot 26 of the jaw carrierwhen the jaws 37 38 are in closed relation, so that said jaws may beheld closed by a roller 41 mounted upon the upper actuating frame 18,and running upon the arcuate upper face 39EL of lever 39, while thecarrier is tilted toward the lasting position, from its upper receivingposition.

For withdrawing the margin of a `conoidal upper 42 into the jaws 37 38and abutting its edge against the latter at their angle, to osition theupper for the reception of a ast, a pair of upper-positioning jaws 43,44, adapte to grip the upper lightly and slide thereon, are mountedbetween the side plates recaen@ of the vertical 4carrier arm4 30 andbetween the members of the double jaws 37 and of the double-jaws 38, andare hinged together at 45, the upper jaw being forked at its hub tostraddlethe lower jaw 44, and the latter having a rearward extension 46pivoted at 47 to a crooked lever 48, said lever being pivoted at 49 tothe vertical jaw-carrierarm 30. The crooked lever 48- is thus adapted toproject and retract the jaws 43, 44 past the corrugated jaws 37, 38, thelower jaw, 44, ruiming upon a roller 4()a journaled between the platesof the arm 30, on the pivot piu 40 of the gripper jaws. For urging thejaws 43, 44 toward their projected position, a pull spring 50 connectsan intermediate part ot the lever 48 with the vertical carrier arm 30,

and for retracting them, against the forcev of said spring, the lever 48is formed with an arcuate upper face 48a adapted to be engaged by aroller 51 mounted upon the intermediate actuating frame 17, said arcuateface being concentric with the pivot 26 oi the jaw carrier l5 when thesliding jaws 43,A

44 are in retracted position, so that the roller 51, running upon theface 48 of the lever 48, may hold them so retracted while the jawcarrier tilts from its upper receiving position toward the lastingposition.

For urging the jaw 43 toward closed position except at the end of itsproj ective movement, for there opening it, and for urging the gripperjaw 38 toward open position, a double plate dog 52 has its respectiveplates pivoted as at 53 to downwartl extensions from the rear arm of thelever 39, said dog having a roller 54 journaled between its plates atits forward end, adapted to run upon the upper face of the jaw 43 forholding the latter closed, and to engage a projection 55 upon said jawat its hub for swinging the jaw open, and the plates of said dog beingformed mid-way of their length with respective upstanding arms, sucharms constituting a lever 56 which is connected by a pull spring 57 witha partof the lever 39 adjacent the .latters hub. Thus the dog 52, by theforce of said spring urging it about its pivot 53, is adapted to bearyieldingly upon the jaw 43 as the jaws 43, 44 are projected andretracted, and also to exert upward force on the lever 39 at its pivot53 for urging the lever 39 and its jaw 38 toward open position, the dog52 also bein so disposed that when the jaws 43, 44 reac 1 the limit oftheir projective movement the roller 54 will engage the-projection 55 ofthe jaw 43 for swinging the jaw 43 open to receive the shoe upper, asshown in i Fig. 9. y

Secured to the respective plates of the lever 39, near their pivot 40,are upstauding, angled lates, spaced apart to accommodate the jaws 43,44, and constituting a guide nger 58 for directing the margin of lou anupper into the jaws 43, '44 and guiding it so that it will clear theupper end of the upstanding jaw-carrier arm 30, as will be clear uponreference to Fig. 9.

The jaws 43, 44 are adapted to be limited in their projective movementby contact of the hub portion of the jaw 43 with the carrier arm 30, asshown'in Fig. 9, and in their opening movement by contact of the roller54 with the lower jaw 44, and the jaw 38 is adapted to be limited in itsopening movement by contact of shoulders such as 59, formed on the sideplates of the levers 39, with stop-lugs such as 59,` formed on the sideplates ot' the carrier arm 30.

The roller 41, which runs upon the lever 39 for closing the jaw 38 isjournaled at the end of a spring arm 60, which is adapted` to yield tocompensate for relatively great thickness of the upper where seamsoccur, and said arm is welded to a bracket 61 screw-bolted to the outer-face ofthe frame 18. A set screw 62 threaded through -the frame. 18bears upon the spring arm 60 and is adapted to be adjusted to vary theforce with which the jaws 37, 38 grip the margin of the upper. Theroller 51, vwhich runs upon the lever 48 for retraeting theupperpositioning jaws 43, 44, is'journaled at the end of a rigid arm 63pivoted at 64 to a bracket 65 screw-bolted to the outer face of theframe 17. A set screw 66 threaded through the frame 17 bears upon thearm 63 and is adapted to be adjusted to determine the position to whichthe upper positioning jaws are retracted. A C-spring 63?` so con'- neetsthe bracket 65 with the arm 63 as to hold the latter against the setscrew 66 when the roller 51 is lifted clear of the lever 48. The roller41 may likewise be lifted clear of its lever 39, as shown in Fig. 8, andthis arrangement permits the use of mechanism adapted to raise and lowerthe frames 17 and 18 through an unvarying distance, as in the case ofthe eccentrics here employed, while the high and low positions of saidframes, although always the same` distance apart, may be varied bychanging the length of their supporting-bar structures, and yet the openpositions of the two pairs of jaws will be determined by theirrespective stops, and not by the positions of said frames.

Laet-carriage mechanism.

J ournaled in brackets 67, 68 rising from the base 11 outside of theframes 10 is a main drive shaft 69, having secured thereon @ive pinions70, 71 meshed respectively with large gears 72, 73 formed upon the outerends of respective segmental-gear drums 74, 75, the latter being securedupon respective shafts 76, 77 journaled in the respective brackets 67,68 and extending through respective bearings formed on brackets 78, 79

rising from the base 11 nea-r the middle ol the machine. The adjacentends ot' the sh a tts 76, 77, between the brackets 78, A7 9, have scv`cured thereon respective cam cranks 80, 81, whose outer ends areconnected by a of pins 82, 82 having rollers 83, 83, loosely 'positionwhile both of the rollers 83 traverse the arcuate portion of the leversface, the proportions of the partsdescribed being such that when thelever 84 'is in its uppermost position the curved portion 85 of thelevers face will be concentric with the shaft 76, this constructionbeing such as to raise the last, with its carriage 14, and cause it todwellin its uppermost position while the gripper units above describedare actuated to apply the uppcrs margin to the sole face of the last.

Said carriage 14 is connected with the forward end of the lever 84 by atwo-part connecting rod 86 provided with a turn-buckle 87 for 'varyingits effective length. The carriage is formed with a base or cross-head14 slidably mounted between and adapted to be guided by the frames l0,the cross-head when in its-lowcrmost position being adapted to rest upona cross-brace 88 connecting the framesl 1() and formed with a ccn'tralapelture 88u accomodating the connecting rod 86.

' Guide bars 14", 14", Fig. 1, have their upper ends secured in thecross-head 14":1nd extend downward therefrom through guide a pertures inthe cross-brace 88, for maintainingl alignment of the last-carriage asit is raised and lowered. v

Mounted upon the last carriage 14 is a. block 89 constituting alastsupport, and said last support is preferably formed with suitableapertures andiitted upon dowels 99, 9() projecting from the upper faceof the last carriage, so that last supports .of different sizes readilymay be substitued. The last support conforms to the sole face of thelast and-is thus adapted to hold snugly against the last an insole 91interposed between the two, and the last support is of smaller verticalprojection than the last, so that the latter overhangs or projectshorizontally be- 'yond the last support, with a uniform mar- (lll gin ofoverhang around the solel face ot' the 'l last, as will readily beunderstood upon reference to Fig. 12, such overhang permitting theapplication of the sole margin of an upper to the insole while the workrests upon the 'last support.

For-initially positioning the last upon its support a generally U-shapedjig 92 is. detaehably secured upon a jig-carrier 92, the

latter being hinged upon a bar 93 mounted between brackets 94 projectingfrom the respective frames (Figs. 1, 2, and 8), and said jig-carrier isprovided with a. stud (Figs. 2 and 8) adapted to bear against sultablestop faces formed on one ofthe brackets 94 for holding the jigrespectively in horizontal position for receiving the last, and in anover-center position, the stud 95 abutting a projection 96 on thebracket 94, so

that the jig is out of the way for the passage of the base ortio'n orcross-head 14'L of the last-carnage. For automatically swinging thejig-carrier 92u from one to the other of these positions it has securedto the hub of one of' its hinge-arms Ia fork 97 ada ted to receive astud 98 (Figs. 2 and 8) projecting from the cross-head 14, the twopositions of the jlg, as determined by the stud-95, being such that thestud 98 will be received by the fork 97 in both the upward and downwardmovements of the last-carriage.

Gripper-frame actuating mechanism.

99 and bolts 100 constitute connecting rods-` adapted on occasion to beadjusted in length to vary the starting and stopping position ot' thetrames 17, 18, although when once adjusted their length does notordinarily rcquire to be changed for operating upon shoes of ditl'erentsizes, the positioning of the gripper units for shoes of different sizesbeing taken care of by varying the starting or upper-receiving positionol the gripper-tilting frame 16.

ln order that such Variation may be had in the upper receiving positionof the frame 16, each pair of its supporting bars 19 (see Fig. 4), havesecured to their lower ends, in common, a bracket 101 formed with adownwardly extending arm 101a at the rear, to which is pivoted at 102 apair of parallel, adjusting levers 103, 103.

vThere is thus a pair of said levers at cach side of thcI machine, (seeFig. 1) and the four levers of the two pairs are connected at theirouter ends by a bar 104 and suitable spacer members 105, 105, formanually raising and lowering the levers 103. Each pair of the levers103 straddles an arcuate, downwardly extending projection 101" formed on05 the adjacent bracket 10-1 and marked with a scale 101c forregistering the position of the levers 103. For securing said levers indesired position, a bolt 106 is mounted in apertures in the four levers103, provided with a -spacer sleeve 106 (Fi 6) between the two innermostlevers, an provided at one end with a hand wheel 107 having a threadedhub mounted on the end of the bolt for drawing the levers 103 of eachpair 75 nism, to vary the initial positiening of the gripper units foruppers of different sizes.

The lost motion links 32 which return the gripper units to upperreceivingv position after each lasting operation are connected to theactuating carrier arms 31 at points au on the latter relatively close tothe carriers pivot 26, as to the carriers positioned about the heelandtoe of the work, while the links` of the gripper units at the instep ofthe last are connected to the actuating arms 31 at SI5 points on thelatter more remote from the pivots 26, as will be clear from acomparison of Fig. 8 with Fi 10 for example, the effect of this being tat when the levers 10:3 z

are adjusted to vary the effective length of 10o the frame supportingstructures which include the slide bars 19,' the resulting variation ofthe starting position of the frame 16 does not affect the positioning ofthe gripper arms 30 at the instep of the last as much 105 as it doesthat of the gripper arms 30 which are at or near the heel and toe of thelast, this being in accordance with the fact that lasts of differentsizes do not have soles ot' geometrically similar form, but vary more110 in outline about the heel and toe portions than they do at theinstep'. The arrangement described is such that the gripper carrierswill be properly positioned for lasts of dili'erent sizes by the simpleadjustment 1,15

of the levers 103. j y

The eccentric collars 23, 24, 25 are mounted respectively uponeccentrics 112, 113, 114, (see Fig. 3) said eccentrics of each set, atthe respective sides of the machine, being loosely journaled in axiallyabutted relation upon a shaft 115 mounted in the adjacent bracket 67 or68 and in the adjacent frame member 10, from which they are spaced bysuitable spacing collars 116, 117, 118. Said eccentrics are providedwith individual driving gears 119, 120, 121 respectively secured ontheir hubs, and said eccentrics are adapted to be intera right and 80row in Fig. 4. The

`spective sides of the machine,

Vmittently driven through half-revolutions,

in timed relation, by respective sets of successive gear segmentssecured u on the adjacent segmental-gear drum 74 or 5. fIhe tlmlng ofthe mechanism is such thatwith the machine in starting posltion, asshown 1n Flg. 8,

the movements of the frames 16, 17 and 18 2. Downward movement of frame18 to lclose gripper jaws.

3. Upward movement of frame 16 to tilt jaw carriers against thelast-support.

'4. Upward movement of frames 17 and 18 together to ermit spring 33 topress the .jaw carriers against the last, while the rollers 41, 51 holdthe gripper jaws closed and the upper positioning jaws retracted,continued upward movement of the frames 17 and 18 then permitting thegripper jaws to be opened by the spring 57, and the spring to projectthe upper positioning jaws and cause the uppermost aw 43 to apply to thelast the portion of the uppers margin theretofore engaged by the grlpperjaws, and to lift the last from its support, the spring 57 then urgingthe jaw 43 toward open position.

5. Downward movement of frame 16 to tilt the jaw-carriers back toupper-receiving position.

The two segmental-gear drums, at the reare alike, so that a descriptionof the drum 74, at the left of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, andshown clearly in Fig. 4, will suilice for both. The gear-segment fordriving the eccentric 113 (see Fig. 3) through half a revolution, tolower the frame 17 and thereby close and retract the upper-positioningjaws, is shown at 122 in Fig. 4, the drum being adapted to be driven inthe direction indicated by the arear-segment for driving the eccentric114 Fig. 3) through half a revolution, to lower the frame 18 and therebyclose the gripper jaws, is shown at 123. (Fig. 4.) That for driving theeccentric 112 through half a revolution, to raise the frame 16`andthereby permit the jaw-carriers 15 to tilt toward the last support, isshown at 124. (Fig. 4.) The gear-segments for then raising the frames 17and 18 simultaneously, to permit the lasting movements of the jawlcarriers and aws, are positioned side by side upon the drum 74, thenearer' one of the two, for the eccentric 114, being shown at 125 inFig. 4, and the two being shown at125, 126

iu Fig. 6. The segment for then lowering the frame 16, to return thegripper units to upper receiving position, is shown at 127. (Fig. 4.) Y

Each of the gears 119, 120, 121, secured to therespective eccentrics, 3,has a tooth omitted therefrom at two diametricall opposite points, asshown at 128, 128 in 4, as to the gear 119, to permit the ear-segmentsto come into mesh without inding. For preventing rotation of the' gears119, 12 121 while they are out of mesh with their respective gearsegments, each is a bell-crank pawl lever, 129, 130, or 131, said leversbeing pivoted upon a common shaft 132, Figs. 2 and 4, each pawl leverbeing urged into engagement with its gear by a spring such as is shownat133 in Figs. 2 and the actuating arm of each bell-crank lever extendstoward the segmental gear drumand is adapted to be engaged by successivecams, suchA as are shown at 134, 134, (Fig. 4) secured upon the drumadjacent the respectivegear segments, to disengage the pawl levers fromtheir respective gears during the time that the latter are meshed withthe gear segments.

' Main dw'fve meohwnz'sm.

The main drive shaft 69, journaled in the brackets 67, 68 and having thedrive pinions 70, 71 secured thereon as above described, is providedwith a brake drum 135 and a jawclutch member 136, Figs. 1, 4, and 5,said clutch member being adapted to mate with a jaw-clutch member 137secured to the hub of a drive pulley 138 which is slidably and rotatablymounted upon the shaft 69 and adapted to bemoved axially, to engage anddisengage the clutch, by means of a shipper lever 139 secured upon ashaft 140 journaled in the bracket 67, said shipper lever bein formedwith a horizontal arm 141 forme with a brake shoe 142 adapted to engagethe brake drum 135 when the clutch 136, 137 is disenga ed. A foot lever143 is secured to the shag: 140 for engaging the clutch, and a sprin 144connects said foot lever with the brac et 67 for urging the clutchmember 137'out of engagement. For holding the clutch engaged during acycle of operations, the brake-shoe arm 141 is formed with an extension141a beyond the brake-shoe, and said extension is adapted to beautomatically engaged by a cam-latch pawl 145 formed on one arm of athree armed lever 146 (See especially Fig. 4), said lever being pivotedat 147 upon the bracket 67 and urged toward latching position by a pullstring 148. One arm of sald lever 146 extends toward the adjacentsegmental gear drum 74 and is adapted to be engaged by a stud 149 onsaid drum at the end of each cycle of operations, represented by onerevolution of the drum, for releasing the latching pawl 145 from thebrake lever 141, and permitting the spring 144 to disengage .the clutchand apply'the brake shoe 142 to the brake drum 135. The

.third arm of the latching lever 146 extends to the front of themachine, constituting a the machine Operation.

In the operation of the machine, the same being in starting condition,as most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9, and thebelt pulley 13S-beingdriven, one operator places the 1nsole 91 and the last 13 upon the lastsupport 89, positioning them against the jig 92, and another'operatorplaces the upper 42, provided with a coating of cement 42 along the edgeof its inner-sole margin, upon the set of gripper units, as shownclearly 1n Fig, 8, the lower or sole margin of the upper being receivedbetween the guiding finger 58 and the lower upper-positioning jaw 44 ofcach gripper unit of the set, the gripper units being appropriatelypositioned by the starting osition of the frame 16.

T e first operator then depresses the :foot lever 143, which engages theclutch 136, 137

' and causes it to beheld engaged, by the eamascends.

latch pawl 145 automatically engaging'the projection 1418L on the brakeshoe lever 141.

The machine then automatically performs' the complete cycle of last-ingoperations, at the end of which the stud 149 on the adjacentsegmental-gear drum 74 strikes the inner arm of the lever 146,disengaging the pawl 145, whereupon the clutch is automatically4disengaged and the brake shoe 142 applied to the brake drum 135, by thespring 144, and the machine is thus stopped in its original condition.

In this cycle of operations, the cranks 80,

'through the intermediate connections described, raise the last 13 tolasting position and hold it there, while the rollers 83 traverse thearcuate face 85 of the lever 84, for the erformancc of the lastoperations.

Tiie stud 98 throws the jig 92 out of the way of the cross head 14tL asthe last carriage While the last is rising the gear segment 122 acts tolower the frame 17, which causes the upper positioning jaws 43, 44 toclose lightly upon the margin otthe upper, under the force of the springimpelled dog 52. and to slide downward and outward thereon, the lowerjaw 44 running upon the roller 40, this stage of o )eration being shownin Fig. 10. The margin of the upper is thus drawn into the angle of thegripper jaws 37 38, its edge abutting them at their angle, and the upperis thus accurately positioned for the engagement of the gripper jawstherewith,the jaws 43, 44 continuing to slide on the upper after itsedge has thus been positioned.

When the upper-positioning jaws have thus been retracted to theirGatermost position, as shown in Fig. 11, the gear segment 123 acts tolower the frame 18, which closes by the jaws 37, 38 the-last 13 arrivesat last- 4 ing position and is forced upward into the upper 42 as shownin Fig. 11, the parts being positioned as there shown.

The gear segment 124 then acts to lift the frame 16, which causes thecompression springs 33 to tilt the respective jaw carriers 15`\ii 1wardagainst the last support 89, as shown in Fig. 12, the rollers 41 and 51running upon the arcuate faces of the levers 39 and 48, to hold all ofthe jaws closed and to hold the upper positioning jaws in theirretracted position with relation to the gripper jaws 37, 38, while thecarriers are thus tilted, the rollers 41 and 51 also preventing the jawcarriers 15 from rising in the slots 27 of the posts 28, as they areurged to do by the compression springs 33.

Next the gear segments125, 126 act simultaneousl to lift the frames 17and 18, which permits the jaw Vcarriers to rise in the .slots 27, thejaw 38 bearing against the last 50 to project the jaws 43, 44, while thelatter are held closed by the roller 40a and the dog 52, but with adecreasing force as the pivot 45 of said jaws approaches the roller 54of said dog. `By such projective movement the jaws 43, 44 apply to theinsole 91 the portion of the'uppers margin theretofore en' gaged by thegripper jaws 37, 38. During the actuation of the jaws 37 38, the work ispreferably held down by hand upon the last support 89 with such pressureas to hold it thereon until all of the gripper units have come to bearupon the insole and with sufiicient pressure firmly to anchor the marginof the upper.

The downward pressure upon the work is then released, whereupon the jaws43, 44, further projected by the springs 50, litt the last from itssupport by a cam action ot' the lower jaw 44 against the last support89. As soon as the front ends of said jaws rise above the last support,in sliding engage- -ment therewith as shown in Fig. '13, they are j thegripper jaws 37, 38 upon the margin of sole. Then as the work is furtherpermitted to rise, the jaws 43 slide outward in contact with the lowerface of the work and are thus returned to full open position, by theroller 54 of the dog 52 engaging the projection 55 on the hub of saidjaw.

Further downward movement of the frame 16, by action of the gear segment127 then-causes the links 32 to tilt the jaw carriers 16 outward, toreturn them to their upper-receiving positions, and meanwhile the cranks80, passing from the arcuate face 85 ofthe lever 84, permit thelast-carriage to descend, and when the instrumentalities are thusreturned to starting position the machine is automatically stoppedasabove described. The opeiation is then repeated upon successive shoes asdescribed.

Modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of myinvention and I do not wholly limit my claims to the specific embodimenthere shown.

I claim: j

l. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units defining alasting position, each of said units comprising a pair of gripper jawsadapted to receive and grip the margin of an upper presented to saidunits collectively, and means having a reti-active movement past saidgripper jaws for diawing the uppers margin thereinto.

2. A lasting machine comprising means for supporting a last and,cooperatively associated therewith, a gripper unit comprising a pair ofgripper jaws, retractive, margin engaging means for drawing the marginof an upper to a determinate position therein, and means for closingsaid jaws and so moving them as to swing said margin onto the sole faceof the last.

3. A lasting machine comprising means for supporting a last and,cooperatively associated therewith, a gripper unit comprising a pair ofgripper jaws, a pair of upperpositioning jaws having a retractivemovement past said gripper jaws and adapted to draw an uppers margintliereinto, means for closing said gripper jaws and so moving them as toswing said margin onto the sole face of the last, and means for then soprojecting one ot' said upper-positioning jaws with relation to saidgripper jaws as to apply to the last the portion of the margintheretofore engaged by said gripper jaws.

4. A lasting machine comprising means for supporting a last, and,cooperatively associated therewith, a gripper unit comprising a jawcarrier, a pair of gripper jaws mounted thereon Aand adapted to grip themargin of an upper on said last, a pair oV upper-positioning jawsmounted on said carrier and having an opening and closing movement andhaving a projective and retractive movementpast said gripper jaws,

for positioning the margin of an upper in the latter, and means' adaptedtoclose said upper-positioning jaws on" the margin of an upper, toretract them to positionthe upper Vm said gripper jaws, and to closesaid gripper jaws on said margin, all in timed relation.

5. A lasting machine comprising means for supporting a lastand,cooperatively associated therewith, a gripper unit comprising a jawcari'icr, a pair of gripper jaws mounted thereon, a pair ofupper-positioning jaws mounted on said carrier, having a projeetive andretractive movement past said gripper jaws and adapted to slideoutwardly while lightly closed upon the margin of an upper forpositioning said margin in said gripper jaws, and means for actuatingsaid upperpositioning jaws and said gripper jaws in timed relation.

6. A last-ing machine comprising a last support and, cooperatively'associated therewith, a gripper unitcomprisin'g a jaw carrier pivotedfor movement from and toward said last support, a pair of gripper jawsmounted on said carrier, a pair of upperpositioning jaws mounted on saidcarrier and adapted t0 draw the margin of an upper into said gripperjaws, levers mounted on said carrier for actuating the respective pairsot jaws and formed with arcuate faces, said faces being concentric withthe pivot of said carrier when 'said upper-positioning jaws areretracted and said gripper jaws closed, and nieans bearing upon saidarcuate facesI for actuating said jaws and holding them in determinaterelation while permitting said carrier to be turned on its pivot.

7. A lasting machine comprising a last. support and, cooperativelyassociated therewith, a. gripper unit comprising a jaw cai'-rier-mounted for movement from and toward lasting position, a pair ofgripper jaws mounted thereon, a pair ot upper-positioning jaws mountedthereon for movement ol. translation with relation to said gripper jawsfor positioning the margin of an upper therein, a lever pivoted on saidcarrier and pivotally connected to said upper-positioning jaws foreffecting their movement ol' translation, means for supporting one ofsaid upper-positioning jaws in its movement of translation, yieldingmeans running upon the other of said upper positioning jaws for urgingit toward closed position, a lever mounted on said carrier for actuatingsaid gripper jaws, and respective means bearing on said levers foractuating said jaws and adapted to run on said levers to hold .said jawsin determinate relation while permitting them to move with theircarrier.

8. A lasting machine comprising a last support and, cooperativelyassociatedA thorewith, a gripper unit comprising a jaw carrier, agripper jaw fixed thereon, a mate for said gripper jaw formed on a leverpivoted on said carrier, and a pair of upper-posiloo tiouing jawsmounted on said carrier for projeetive and retractive movement past saidgripper jaws for drawing the margin of an upper thereinto. i

9. A lasting machine comprising a last support and, cooperativelyassociated therewith, a gripper unit comprising a jaw. carrer, a pair ofgripper jaws mounted thereon, a lever pivoted thereon and adapted toactuate said gripper jaws` a pair of iipper-posi- (inning jawsl mountedou said carrier for projeetive and retractive movement past said gripperjaws for drawing the margin of aii upper thcreinto, means on saidcai'rier on which one of said upper-positioning jaws rims in itsprojeetive and retractive movement, the other of said upper positioningjaws being formed with a projcctioli at lts huh adapted to be engaged toswing it open,

Aa dog adapted to ruii on the lastmentioned jaw for holding it closedduring a part of its movement of translation and for engaging its saidprojection to swiig it open at the end of its projeetive movement, saiddog being pivoted to the aforesaid lever, and yielding means connectingsaid dog with said lever, and adapted, by urging said dog about itspivot, to urge said lever toward jaw-opeiiing positioning and to urgesaid dog against the upper-positioning jaw.

t 10. A lasting machine comprising a last support and, cooperativelyassociated therewith, a jaw carrier support, a jaw carrier pivotedthereon to tilt from and toward said last support and adapted to slidetoward and from the sole of t-lie last, upper-gripping jaws on saidcarrier, yielding means urging said cai'rier about its pivot toward saidsupport and urging it to slide toward the sole ot' the last, and meansopposed to said ielding means for reversely actuating sai carrior.

11. A lasting` machine comprising a last support formed with a faceadapted to guide a pair of jaws a gainst the sole face ot' a lastmounted in overhanging relation thereon and, cooperatively associatedtherewith, a jaw carrier having a jaw fixed thereon, a. mate for saidjaw pivoted on said carrier, means for moving said jaw carrier along theguiding face of said support to apply to the sole of said last themargin of an upper gripped by said jaws, and means for thereafterapplying to the last the p0rtion of said margin theretofore gripped bysaidjaws.

12. A lasting machine comprising means Yt'or supporting a last and,cooperatively associated therewith, a gripper unit comprising a pair ofgripper jaws, a-pair of upperpositioning jaws having a retractivemovement past said gripper jaws and adapted to draw an uppers marginthereinto, means for closing said gripper jaws and so moving them as toswing said margin onto the sole face ofthe last, and yielding means forthen so projecting said upper-positioning jaws with relation to saidgripper jaws as to apply to the last the portion of the-margin,

theretofore engaged by said gripper jaws.

13. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units defining alasting position, each of said gripper units comprising a 'air of jawsadapted to grip the margin o an upper presented to 4said unitscollectively, and a pair of upper-positioning jaws adapted to draw saidmargin into said gripper jaws and subsequently to apply to the sole faceof the last the port-ion of Said margin tlieretofore engagedby' saidgripper jaws. Y

14. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units defining alasting position,

each of said units comprising a pair o"v of "ripper units defining alasting position,

eac i of said units comprising a jaw carrier, a pair of gripper jaws anda pair of upperpositioning jaws thereon, and means for so actuating saidelements in timed relation as to cause said u per-positioning jaws todraw the margin o an upper into said gripper jaws, the latter to closeon said margin, and said carriers'to carryfthe v`,gripper jaws t o warda central 'position to draw said margin vunder the sole of a lastcontained in said 16. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripperunits defining a lasting position, each of said grip er units comprisinga jaw carrier, a pair o gripper jaws and a pair of 'upper-positioningjaws mounted thereon, a frame disposed about the lasting position,constituting a mounting for said -carriers and formed to admit thepassage of a last into an upper held by said gripper jaws, a secondframe disposed about the lasting position and having conneetionto saidjaw carriers for moving the latter with relation to their mounting, athird framedisposed I about the lasting position and having connectionto said upper-positioning jaws for actuatingthem` concurrently, and afourth frame so diposed and adapted concurrently to actuate said gripperjaws.

17. A lasting.: machine comprising a .set-

of gripper units dening a lasting position and adapted to hold an upperin position for the reception of a last and to swing the margin of theupper toward the last, means for relatively advancing a last into anupper so held, and means for concurrently actuating said gripper units,the last said means comprising a set of frames having actuatingconnection to the several `gripper units, and respect-ive eccentrics foractuating said frames.

1S. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units deining alasting position and adapted to hold an upper in position for thereception of a last and to swing the margin of the upper toward thelast, means for relatively advancing a last into an upper so held, andmeans for concurrently actuating said gripper units, the last said meanscomprising a set of `frames having actuating connection to the severalgripper units, respective eccentrics for actuating said frames, and aset of mutilated gears for actuating said eccentrics respectively.

19. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units defining alasting position and adapted to hold an upper in position forl thereception of a last and to swing the margin of the upper toward thelast, means for relatively advancing a last into an upper so held, andmeans for concurrentl actuating said gripper units, the last said meanscomprising a set of frames having actuating connection to the severalgripper units, respective eccentrics for actuating said frames, a set ofmutilated gears for actuating said cccentrics respectivel and means forpreventing rotation of t e respective eccentrics while they aredissassociated from their respective mutilated gears.

20. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units defining a.lasting position,

each of said units comprising a jaw carrier pivoted for movement fromand toward lasting positlon, Jaws on said carriers, a frame .disposedabout the lasting position and having connection to said carriers forturning them on their pivots from and toward lasting position, apush-bar structure for actuating said frame, means for actuating saidpush-bar structure, and means for varying the effective length of saidpush-bar structure for varying the initial positioning of said carriersfor work of dilferent sizes.

2l. A lasting machine comprising a set of gripper units defining alasting position, each of said units comprising a )aw carrier pivotedfory movement from and toward lasting position, jaws on said carriers, aframe disposed about the lasting position and having connection to saidcarriers for turning them on their pivots from and toward lastingposition, a push-bar structure for actuating said frame, means foractuating said push-bar structure, and means for varying the effectivelength of said pushbar structure for varying the initial positioning ofsaid carrier for work of different sizes, the last said means comprisinga level` mechanism.

22. A lasting machine comprising means fgr holding an upper by itsmargin for the reception of a last and means for advancing a last intoan upper so held, the last said means comprising a slidably mounted lastsupport, a lever operatively connected thereto and formed with a camface, a cam crank, and means on said crank coacting with said cam facefor actuating said last support.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of April,1924.

FRANK J. MACDONALD.

